The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-23
THE WHEN
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.
Instead of Talking About American Politics.
He Speaks Of Shakespeare and Richard ILL.,"

CHICAGO, Feb. 22-James Russell Lowell was
greeted at Central Music Hall, this afternoon,
by brilliant audience, assembled to hear him
deliver an address on American Politics. J"
Every seat in the hall was taken long before the
time Mr.. Lowell was expected. On the platform
was a distinguished array of gentlemen. includ-
ing ex-Cabinet members, federal and State
judges, generals and lesser military officers.
bishops and other ecclesiastical dignitaries and
many of the foremost representatives of the
commercial interests of Chicago and the North
west On behalf of the Union League Club
General Smith, in introducing MIR. Lowell ex-
planned that the address was the first of an an
nual series under the auspices of the club, the
idea being to inaugurate, if possible, revival of
the general recognition of the birthday of
Washington and cultivate among the people a
higher political culture. Mr.. Lowell. on coming
forward. was greeted with prolonged applause
He said:
Ladies and Gentlemen-When I received the
invitation to speak here tonight, and, indeed;
until short time ago, had the impression that
was to speak AS one Of course. 1t was an
erroneous impression, know, but it was sim
cere one. l was offered my choice of two topics
politics literature-and at first, l chose
politics, but now appear in q new capacity to
announce a change of programme. After having
written address on politics, when came to
read it over felt that stood in very delicate
position. was to address mixed audience an
audience composed of both parties. l was not
speaking in my own person, but as the represent
ative of club composed of both parties. Now,
/ believe have been in the habit, at times, of
speaking my mind pretty strongly, perhaps
sometimes, too strongly, but found this
occasion in which l was placed in delicate
position, where l could not express N.Y.
self with entire frankness. as one speaking
in my own person. You ali know of course,
quite as we'll as l do that a text is mere bru-
tum fulmen, without direct and immediate IL
lustration, and / have observed, as l dare say
you have, that direct and immediate illustrations
seem to have some personal application In them.
Direct applications and illustrations seem to
| have gone to the school Of the prophet Nathan,
| and if they do not say in SO many words, Thou
| art the man, they always seem to imply it. 1t
| seems to me had better throw up my political
| discourse, though with great reluctance, because
| could not make it to nv mind, and shall fall
| back on the other limb of the choice offered me-
| that is, some literary topic. / am~the more con-
| vinced of the wisdom of the choice since my ar
rival in Chicago. for it would cause me the great
est possible regret if any word of mine should
mar the cordiality of a welcome which will be
one of the pleasan test recollectons of my life.
shall, therefore, ask you to listen to few words
of criticism and then apply them to the play Of
/ Richard IL and to the absence of certain things
| in that play which seem to indicate to my mind
| that it is not Shakspeares work"
The speaker then proceeded with disserta
| ton on Richard III. making no allusion to poll
| tics, American or otherwise. To say that the
| audience was greatly surprised is to put the sit
| uaton very mildly. Few people left the hall
| but the address received from the majority o.
| the audience close attention. and at it's conclu
sion MIR. Lowell was loudly applauded.